those four days so we expect something like that. >> what does this mean to you, someone who has really had their handin planning? >> beyond my wildest imagination. we're hoping people come into charlotte and get to know this city for the first time. because a lot of people perhaps haven't visited before. so we really have a clean slate that we can really project what it is that we want people to know about charlotte. and i think really charlotte is -- it's kind of the new face of the new america. it's very diverse. it's very young and very up and coming. and very, you know, we've got -- we've even got a funky edge to us that some people don't realize. so it's been fun to show that. >> zoraida sambolin in for carol costel costello, cnn "newsroom" continues now with ashley banfield. >> thanks for being here, 11:00 on the east coast, 8:00 on the west coast. did somebody mention charlotte, north carolina? something going on there. boy, is there ever.

take a look at your screen. that is the site of americans coming together. no, really. that's what they're calling it. americans coming together. it's the theme. and it could also describe the podium at the democratic national convention, which kicks off officially tonight. and hold your horses. i hope you like speakers! because we've got 48 speakers on tap, just for opening night alone. let me repeat that. 48 speakers on tap, just for opening night alone. and that doesn't even count the opening and closing prayers. but make no mistake, they're going to be good. the headliner is none other than the first lady herself, michelle obama. and the keynote skooep speaker is a guy you may not know right now, but mark my words, you're going to know him tomorrow, and you're going to know him in probably the next four and eight years. more on that in a moment. but cnn's joe johns is watching all of this live. he joins me. joe, we watched at the rnc when

ann romney kicked off that first night, and it was -- really, it was such a great speech. people will say what they will about a party that they don't like. but she was a great speaker, and she had everybody wrapped. and everybody talked about her in the media the next day, which is really the key when it comes to these conventions. nobody had really heard from her before, but they have heard from michelle obama. so is the pressure higher for mrs. obama to really sort of punch through, get her message out there, and get headlines for tomorrow? >> it's true, people have been listening to michelle obama for four years now, even more than that. but actually, i've got to tell you, a lot of politicians love to say their spouses are their secret weapons. but in this case, it certainly seems to be true for the first family. because if you look at the last cnn orc poll, came out something like june, looked into this, it showed that michelle obama actually has a higher favorability rating than president obama. something like 65 to 56%.

so that's going to be on display. also, michelle obama's appeal to women. certainly a very big deal. there are going to be other speakers here at the dnc also pushing that issue we've heard so much about. lilly ledbetter whose name is really synonymous with the fight for women's equal pay. sandra fluke, whose name is synonymous with the fight for birth control. so michelle obama fits into that also. a big night for her, certainly, ashley. >> and a huge night. it really can't be overstated for a young man by the name of julian castro. and if americans don't know that name right now, they're going to know it. walk me through june julian castro, why he's the keynoter and what it means. >> well, he's the mayor of san antonio. he is the first latino keynote at the democratic national convention. also a huge personal story that democrats hope people will

really buy into and listen to. he is like the president of the united states, a harvard law grad. he has a twin brother. he grew up with a single mom, some challenges there in his personal life. and pretty dynamic speaker. so people are hoping to tune in. obviously, for democrats, the latino vote is huge this election cycle. even here in states like north carolina, a large and growing minority population. so they're hoping julian castro really strikes a cord this evening, ashley. >> and people should remember back in 2004, there was a young man who was the keynote speaker named, oh, i believe it was barack hussein obama. >> i was on the floor for that. >> ah, you remember it well, don't you? let's talk about getting down to business. and that is the party platform. obviously, it differs from the republican party platform. but it also differs from past democratic platforms. i'm talking to you, same-sex marriage. so what else is in there, and

what exactly does the platform say? >> right. well, same-sex marriage is a thing i think we're all looking at, because it's a little bit different. but in some ways also the same. i think we have a graphic that we can show you. just with a little bit of the language. there you go. we support the right of all families to have equal respect, responsibilities and protections under the law. we oppose discriminatory federal and state constitutional amendments and other attempts to deny equal protection of the laws, and it goes on and on. but this same-sex issue, same-sex marriage, here in north carolina, is also very important. because back in may, this state actually passed a ban on same-sex marriage. so they're sort of confronting that issue and they think it's very good for them this election cycle, and hoping that will be another thing that gives them a plus at the polls in november, ashley. >> it also makes you wonder if they're sacrificing north carolina to be able to highlight this particular platform plank for the rest of the country.

but i did i grease and really need to ask you the logistics of this week. the democrats are not escaping the weather problems. clearly, that was a huge deal for the republicans who lost a day because of isaac. now we're talking about a pretty big storm that's brewing for thursday night. and while that shouldn't matter for being inside, it matters when you've got 75,000 people coming for an outside speech by the president. what are they doing about this for contingency? >> well, right now they're saying rain or shine, they're going to be there. and that seems to be the case. the thing they have to worry about is a damper on enthusiasm. if it rains really hard. it would certainly be a challenge for then. a lot of people, of course, are focusing on that stadium you see there, not because of the weather, if you will, but because it's known as bank of america stadium. so it may be the name that turns out to be a bigger problem for the president of the united states than the weather, regardless of what happens, ashley. >> i remember an interview -- certain interview when she called wall streeters fat cats? okay, i gotcha. joe johns, thank you sir.

we'll be tapping into you for more information as you move along through this convention. and our prime time coverage of the dnc, democrat national convention, kicks off tonight, 7:00 p.m. eastern with wolf blitzer and anderson cooper and the rest of cnn's crack political team. during the 10:00 p.m. hour, first lady michelle obama will address the delegates. and at midnight, piers morgan will wrap-up the first night of the 2012 democratic national convention. tune in, we won't miss a beat so you don't miss a beat. if you're doing the math and on the countdown, it means six hours until the official start of the convention. president obama is officially in the air right now, but he's not going to charlotte. not yet. he's got another stop beforehand in norfolk. the neighboring swing state of virginia. this is his last campaign trip before his biggest campaign trip of 2012 to accept the nomination for the second term. that's going to be thursday night in charlotte. but my other colleague, dan lothian, is awaiting the president at norfolk state

university. the theme of the dnc convention, dan, is middle class. and yet all i keep seeing is the president showing up on university campuses and going for that young vote. >> that's right. but when you look around the crowd, you will see a lot of middle class voters, not only here, but in some of the other battleground states where the president has visited in most recent days. i was talking to a campaign senior aide who told me that the president will continue to focus on what he has done to make life better for middle class americans, continue to go after his opponent, mitt romney for as the president puts it, not offering up any new ideas. and he'll be making that pitch again to voters here in the battleground state of virginia, an important state that the president won in 2008. it was the first down that a democrat had done that in more than 40 years so the president trying to keep this state blue. but even as he's touting some of his accomplishments, republicans continue to hammer the president as being an effective and they're jumping on some remarks

the president recently made in an interview with colorado tv station kktv, when he was asked what grade he would give himself on fixing the economy. the president said, quote, you know, i would say incomplete. but he went on to say, but what i would say is, the steps that we have taken in saving the auto industry in making sure that college is more affordable and investing in clean energy and science and technology and research, those are the things that we are going to need to grow over the long-term. now, deputy campaign manager stephan stephanie cutter defended the president, saying what he was trying to convey is that the nation is moving forward, but that there is still a lot of things that he still wants to get done. but i should point out, the president has used this before in terms of giving himself an incomplete grade before. most recently in may when he sat down with the ladies of "the view" on abc, used the very same grade when they asked him that question. but when you start saying that

so close to the election, republicans are jumping all over this. we are seeing the rnc sending around a lot of e-mails. the romney campaign as well sending a lot of e-mails, saying this is evidence that the nation needs new leadership. >> so dan, just when you were saying that, that this colorado reporter, you know, went after the president on this whole notion of are you better off now than you were four years ago -- it's the every year campaign question, no matter what president is in office. but there were missteps over the weekend. there was a cleanup effort yesterday and now i'm getting the impression, and you correct me if i am wrong, now i'm getting the impression they are full-court press on seizing that narrative. i want to read quickly something i got a few moments ago and it's the opening sentences from the democratic platform. and it actually says, four years ago, we were in the midst of the greatest economic crisis since the great depression. today our economy is growing again. al qaeda is weaker than at any point since 9/11. and our manufacturing sector is growing for the first time in more than decades.

so question to you. did the memo go out to everyone in the campaign, and all surrogates, seize the narrative on the four years ago issue, and turn it around, or else? >> well, it certainly does appear that way, based on what you were just pointing to. the message, what we're hearing, either from those stepping in front of the camera or those talking on background, is that the president has been able to make life better for all americans, but certainly for middle class americans. and, again, it's -- we talked about this a little bit yesterday. it's a very difficult balance for the president, because on the one hand, he can't come out and say, look, things are great, because they're not. there's still a lot of people out there suffering, a lot of people unemployed. and as republicans like to point out, unemployment rates still above 8%. at the same time, the president and democrats are highlighting what has happened, for example, in the auto industry, where hundreds of thousands of jobs have been saved by the auto bailout. and that is the message you'll

continue to hear from democrats in general. the president, specifically. >> i'm sure things are getting busy behind you. i'm just watching the podium behind you as they get everything advanced for the arrival of the president. thank you, dan lothian, in norfolk, virginia. clearly, you need to remember while the president is in norfolk, virginia, his wife is obviously probably putting the finishing touches on her big speech for 10:00 want to. cnn will have full coverage live for mrs. obama's opening speech at the democratic national convention. and also cnn's anderson cooper and wolf blitzer at 7:00. and i have a question for you. are you in the middle class? do you know what it actually means to be in the middle class? has that changed in the last couple decades? wow. do i have news for you coming up. great shot. how did the nba become the hottest league on the planet? by building on the cisco intelligent network they're able to serve up live video, and instant replays,

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be brave, go to the doctor. ovarian and uterine cancers are gynecologic cancers. symptoms are not the same for everyone. i got sick...and then i got better. try capzasin-hp. it penetrates deep to block pain signals for hours of relief. capzasin-hp. take the pain out of arthritis. you look at that picture of 1.8 million people in january of 2009. that was the inauguration of president obama. christine romans joining me to talk about how many of those people in that breathtaking picture -- i've never seen that many people, i think, out on the mal on a very cold day. how many of those people consider themselves middle class, and how many actually are by today's standards? >> it's so interesting, because middle class, some polls, most people, 85% consider themselves

middle class. but not everybody can be in the middle. what we do know, the middle class is shrinking, has less money. and if you look at this most recent pew research center poll, what does it take to be in the middle class? 86% says it takes a secure job. not defining by amount of money, but the availability of a secure job. >> what kind of job? a secure job -- >> not a part-time job, a secure job. health insurance, 66%. look at this, to own a home. less than half -- fewer than half the people surveyed said the house is part of the middle class. it's the job. 86% job. you go down here. investments, only 28% say that stocks, bonds, or investments -- >> and 37%. >> these numbers have been declining. let's look back to 1991. this is what people felt like in 1991. homeownership, 70% people said hey, it's the house. and look at this, 48% says it's two or more cars. this is 1991. this is a snapshot of a

consumer-obsessed america. it is the house, two or more cars, college education, more people thought a college education back then was the pathway to a middle class than they do today. stocks, bonds, investments, 41%. and white collar job rounding out the top five at 33%. >> again, white collar job. not even just job. white collar job. >> because back then, people assumed that -- >> you have one. >> a job was not something you didn't think was going to be an inevitability. i want to talk quickly about stocks. because we saw the stocks part of this equation -- look, it's been a good year for stocks. the s&p 500, look at this, had had a really tough spring. and then it's been up 7% this summer. >> what's that old expression about in may? >> sell in may and go away. if you did that, you would have lost money. this is what it looks like this year, good year, but that doesn't matter to people, you know why? because they're obsessed with jobs. if they have a job, they're worried about their raises or worried about somebody else they know who doesn't have a job.

so stock investments which a generation ago would have been something that made the middle class feel better. not making the middle class feel better today. >> clearly, both of these parties during these two conventions are so after the middle class. in fact, that's the theme of the entire dnc this week is middle class, middle class, middle class. if it's not just about the numbers -- if you don't think you fit into the numbers or not sure where you fit into those numbers, there's a whole other ideology of why people think they're part of the middle class. >> because middle class are values, as well. >> see those people again. i just wonder how many of those -- >> the middle class has become -- technically, middle class is, you know, the middle of the quinntiles on the income distribution. >> but your morals. >> it's about morals and whether you think you're a part of what is driving america ahead. >> i tend to think in the campaign oftentimes the middle class is considered that group with like morals, as opposed to the economic middle class. is that wrong? >> we know this middle class wants jobs. that's what these polls show. >> and we know that you are

brilliant when it comes to the numbers. thank you, christine romans. >> you're welcome. on every one of our cards there's a date.

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and there is a beautiful live picture of a somewhat empty auditorium in charlotte, north carolina. but they'll be over 35,000 media

delegates and special guests piling into that auditorium, because we're on the countdown to the start of the national democratic convention. our full coverage starts at 7:00 p.m. eastern tonight with the fabulous wolf blitzer and anderson cooper shepherding all of our work, and going right through until past midnight with piers morgan, as well. so you're not going to miss anything, especially that big, big speech by michelle obama and the keynote address by julian castro. make sure you tune in for all of that. in the mean time, michelle rhee is a name that has become synonymous with controversial education reform. rhee was the former chancellor for public schools in the nation's capital. and in her role ruffled feathers when she closed down schools and clashed with teachers' unions. while her stance on education is more in line with the republican platform, she so happens to be a registered democrat. she was fully thrust into the national spotlight when this contentious documentary,

"waiting for superman" was released. and she is back again. this time with a fictional big-screen movie called "won't back down." >> da -- [ laughter ] >> try it again. >> i can't. >> i can tell you -- my kid can't read. >> what happened? where is she? >> excuse me. >> mania! >> i punished her because she does not follow rules. >> are you safe? >> i'm going to get you out of there. >> so this movie "won't back down" was screened at the republican national convention last week and then just screened again at the democratic national convention this week, which is why michelle rhee joins us live. good to see you. >> nice to see you, as well. >> first question. i understand the reception you had at the rnc was huge and raucous when the movie was

screened. how about the reception at the dnc? >> it was equally positive. we a packed house last night here in charlotte. people were very excited about the movie. i think it showed and illustrated a lot of the frustrations that parents are having today with the public schools. but it's also very hopeful movie and it sends the message that you can do something about the quality of education that your kids are getting. so i think people left excited. >> i'm surprised you say it was equally as raucous, i wasn't sure what was going to happen. of course democrats want education reform as do republicans, but democrats are very protective of their unions and you are very critical of teachers' unions and your teacher reform or education reform is a little akin to almost union-busting. it just goes against the grain. that's why i was wondering where do you fit in when it comes to democrats, their platform, and their reform plans? >> you know, i think that the

reforms that we're talking about are not union-busting at all. in fact, they are very pro reform. basically what we're saying is that teachers matter. not just a lot. they are the most important in-school factor that impacts student achievement levels. and i really think it's a new day in the democratic party. you know, yesterday we had mayor antonio villaraigosa, my husband, kevin johnson from sacramento, corey booker from newa newark, all high-profile democrats, who joined the president in saying, you know what, we support teachers, and we support unions. but we have to challenge some of the policies that are guiding how teachers are treated and how they're staffed in these schools. because some of these policies just aren't helping kids and it's about time as a democratic party we turn our attention to making changes in these policies and is laws. >> i know that after the screening at the rnc last week, michelle, you and jeb bush were at a round table discussion. and one of the things that stood out to me about what governor bush said was this.

i don't think that the differences that exist between romney and obama on education are as big as on tax policy. and that got me to thinking that americans put education lower than jobs and the economy when they talk about what's most important to them. i'm curious to know what you think is going to be the next four years, regardless of who ends up in the white house in terms of priority and where that's going to fall when it comes to education reform. >>el with, you know, i sit in lots of conversations with people in my own party, with democrats. i sit in a lot of conversations with republicans. and i can tell you that they agree on a whole lot more than they disagree on. and so i think one of the most important things that could happen after this election, regardless of who is elected, is that the politicians in washington can decide, okay, we are going to come together. the people of america are tired of the gridlock on capitol hill. let's come together and put partisan party politics aside and put the best interests of kids first. and start passing some laws and

policies that are really going to move the education system in this country forward. >> and i think everybody wants to do exactly what you just said. it's just the philosophies on how to do that, obviously, the teachers' unions say there are plenty of jurisdictions around this country that are heavy with teachers unions that score very high. and is, of course, your argument is that sometimes the teachers' unions shouldn't be answered to first, that the kids should. you and i to have a longer conversation another time. can you come back another time? >> absolutely. i would love to. >> michelle rhee, good to see you live in charlotte. i just want you to know as well, to that argument, we reached out directly to the american federation of teachers. they're really at odds with michelle rhee and the focus of the movie and "waiting for superman" documentary and some of these policies. this is what themd. the last thing this country and the debate over education reform needs is another movie that maligns teachers, teachers' unions and misleads the american public about what's happening in public education today. real public education comes from teachers, parents and

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democratic convention kicks off today with a roster of big names set to speak and a whole lot of other names too, like dozens and dozens. we have talked about michelle obama's speech as the headliner and she is definitely not alone. here are other big-name speakers who will hit the podium. newark mayor cory booker, as well as senate majority leader harry reid speaking today. democrats are also highlighting candidates for house and senate races, like tammy duckworth and joe kennedy iii. cnn's paul steinhauser is live in charlotte, north carolina. i hope you have a really big, thick notebook for the 80-some odd speakers. which do we need to pay attention to, which are the

democrats really trying to highlight? >> well, you go into the evening every hour following is more important. let's talk about the 9:00 hour. rahm emanual. this should be very interesting. the former white house chief of staff for president obama first two years in office now mayor of chicago. and rahm emanuel is a straight talker. i think you're going to hear him talk tough tonight and should be fascinating, his comments, not only in support of the presidents about also in criticizing mitt romney and the republicans. also in the 9:00 hour, ted strickland, former governor of ohio. and ashleigh, this is all about the auto bailouts. you're going to hear ted strickland talk about how president obama in his words saved the auto industry. why does that matter in ohio? it's not just michigan, a lot of auto plants in ohio. also in the 9:00 hour, deval patrick, the governor of massachusetts, and somebody who is pretty close to president obama. he'll be a big advocate for the president. and then 10:00, before the big speakers, martin o'malley. he's the governor of maryland, head of the democratic

governors' association, also somebody who may want to run for president in 2016, and, of course, you remember over the weekend, he had a problem with weather. we're better off now than four years ago. >> yeah, he said no. but then he tried to change that and clarify what he meant. >> no, yes. right. exactly. >> and i say the serve pro effort has been going on ever since. let me move on to something that i think is really critical to talk about. because last week during the rnc, todd akin's comments about legitimate rape, et cetera, really overshadowed a lot about what was going on at the rnc. and this week we've got one for the democrats, too. and that is a young man who happens to be the chairman of the democratic party in california, by the name of john burton, who actually compared republicans to nazis. let me just read exactly can what he said. he said, they lie and they don't care if people think they lie. as long as you lie, the big lie, you keep repeating it, you know. for those who don't remember,

world war ii history, nazi propagandist under adolf hitler. obviously, a big apology since, trying to back pedal since. but this is not cool. >> no, not cool. the nazi comparisons never work in politics. this is another example of why you don't or should not do that. the republican party in california was quick to criticize. the chairman called these the desperate, deranged rhetoric the democrats will try to employ. so the republicans are attacking. and burton has apologized over his comments. it's a distraction that the democrats don't want. whether it's at the todd akin level of last week, that's debatable. ashleigh? >> yeah. you know what, i'm getting sick of both parties calling people nazis in this party. it's stupid and sick. and they both need to lay off. paul steinhauser, thank you very much. do appreciate your work. and i know you have a long night

ahead, as well. he's going to be tuning in it and watching the monitors and you hopefully will be -- the presidential candidates. these documentaries are awesome. and i know i work for cnn, but let me tell you, i've watched both of them twice. 8:00 p.m. eastern, romney revealed. family, faith and the road to power. gloria borger does an awesome job. and followed by "obama revealed: the man, the president" jessica yellin rocked this. if you want to know more about these two men.

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usaa bank goes with you. visit us online to learn what makes our bank so different. they're a fixture at every political convention, republican or democrat. the creative coalition. you probably heard about it. but if you don't know what it is, it's a nonprofit group with a goal to advocate for the arts and also protect funding for the arts in public schools. that's the good news. the bad news is we got an economy with nearly 13 million people out of work and we have 46 million people living at or below the poverty line and that's according to the 2010 census. so can we afford spending on the arts with all those other problems circling behind us?

award-winning actor, producer, comedian, with the creative coalition here to make the kiss. so john, welcome to the program. it's very nice to see you. i have to say, this is such a tender topic for so many. i don't think you're ever going to hear someone say the arts just aren't important at all. it's just a matter of how important are they when we have cut welfare spending on average more than a half in the last few years. >> i mean, it's incredible. the way -- everybody is for the arts. but it's the first thing that gets cut, the first thing that gets taken out of school curriculums. but it's been proven that every dollar spent on the arts gets you $7 back. taxable dollars. it's the second healthiest industry, entertainment industry in this country. music -- the ipod was created to sell music, taxable dollars. i mean, it's an industry that gives back in so many ways. i mean, kids -- it's been proven

that kids who are in arts programs have a lower dropout rate. are much more connected to the community, give back more, stay in school, helps them with science and math. so it's really important aspect of our lives. something that shouldn't be -- >> i don't disagree that there is a wonderful investment. i've got two children and i clearly want them to be exposed to as much as i can afford. and there's the key. i can't afford to invest right now because i'm spending money on housing and food and as much as other things i can. while it may be a great investment, is this country in a bet of a crisis. and i'm talking food and lodging. >> absolutely. but schools can reallocate moneys and keep the arts programs in their schools and make it a much more important part of their schools, because arts is what helps you through times of trouble and pain. and it's what keeps america -- i

mean, technologies are asking for creatives, creative thinkers, and where do they come from? they always come from the arts. our national anthem is a work of art. you need the arts. it's what elevates and keeps the morale in a country going. >> i'm a big fan of yours, i have to say and i have to end our interview with a twinkle in my eye. i adored you before i had children in "bring silla, queen of the desert. notion and now you're bigger on my books because of "ice age." 1, 2, or 3. so thank you for your contribution. >> my pleasure. >> and to my family. >> thank you. thanks, john joining us live from charlotte, north carolina. there's on or about celebrities, as well, with the creative coalition, jessica alba, jeff bridges with long hair and beard. ashleigh judd. and patricia arquette.

leg

. in syria, a dire warning from the international committee of the red cross. the humanitarian situation, quote, is deteriorating very fast. end quote. more than 103,000 syrians fled into neighboring countries in august. just in august. and that's nearly doubling the number from the previous 17 months. the head of the icrc met today with the syrian president in a bid to increase the flow of aid to the civilians. we'll let you know how that went. on top of the refugee crisis, the ucht n. says the fighting has become, quote, particularly brutal and violent. you've been seeing the pictures, and you've been seeing the reporting. but perhaps no group suffers more than the kids, the innocent kids of syria. they're among the scores who are killed every day, and if you're sitting with your child right now in your home, think for a moment about a little 4-year-old girl who is sitting in her mom's lap and unfortunately sniper's

bullet found its mark inside their home. a warning to you, the pictures are graphic and disturbing. [ honking ] >> reporter: on aleppo streets, a truck races through traffic. we follow them, because we've seen a man leap inside, carrying a limp little girl in his arms. but perhaps because our car is new, he now rushes towards us for help. renna is 4. go to the hospital, he says. guys, she's choking. [ honking ] what happened? she was on the balcony at home when a bullet struck from nowhere, he explains. she is struggling to breathe. the bullet has hit her cheek.

at the hospital, the doctors move to clear her airway. they think she'll live. but this underequipped rebel hospital can't treat her fully. [ crying ] [ choking ] >> reporter: so they make a tough decision to send her across the front lines to a better-equipped government hospital where we can't go. this is where the bullet entered her home. across the street is a cemetery and tall buildings, or inside, rebel territory where snipers work everywhere. this war has left no one safe. the grandmother saw it all. she was in her mother's lap when it entered here. we saw blood, then she grimaced, screamed for mother, and then went silent, she says.

given the trajectory, the bullet was fired from the other side of the cemetery from one of those tall buildings. it's unlikely the gunman would have seen his target but is an example of what many say here is the horror visited upon normal civilians every day. the children know what happened. they find a knocked-out tooth but not the bullet that hit renna. they go to visit her, believing the worst is behind them. it is hard to understand why a sniper would fire into a residential home, unless to terrify civilians in rebel areas. the next morning, we learn she was taken to two government hospitals, none of the doctors were able to remove the bullet, relatives tell us, which was stuck in her throat. renna died. her body brought home and buried in the cemetery that sat between where the gunman probably fired from and her home. nick paton walsh, cnn, aleppo.

>> and please be sure to tune in tomorrow when nick paton walsh reports from aleppo on how random government shelling of civilian areas appears to only be showing on cnn.

if you didn't already hear the democrats are kicking off their convention in charlotte today with a rising star from san antonio.

it's that city's mayor, and his name, get ready, julian castro. remember that name. he is making history. he's going to be the first latino to give the party's keynote speech. cnn's ed lavendera is going to introduce him to you. >> hey, everybody, i'm julian castro. >> reporter: first thing you need to know, it's pronounced julian castro. the j. is silent, not julian. if you get the spanish wrong, don't worry, san antonio's mayor never mastered espanol. >> i grew up in the household with my mother and grandmother mostly speaking english. i understand it. speaking it back a always the challenge. >> reporter: julian castro's grandmother immigrated to san antonio from mexico and worked as a community activist in snan anton antonio's chicano movements. julian castro and his twin brother went to stanford university and harvard law school.

now he's a rising star in the democratic party tapped to give the keynote speech at the democratic convention, the same speech an unknown barack obama gave at the convention in 2004. >> you get talked about as someone who could be the first hispanic governor of texas, some people even suggesting the first hispanic president of the united states. do you like that kind of talk? can you handle that kind of pressure? >> i'd be lying if i said that's not flattering. of course it's flattering to anybody, but the biggest mistake that i could make or anybody could make in this situation is to believe the press. to believe the hype. >> reporter: castro was elected mayor in 2009 and then reelected with 82% of the vote. now he's 37, the youngest mayor of a top 50 city in the united states. he's also used to baby face jokes. >> one of the funnier things that's happened to you when you first met president obama, he jokingly asked if you were the intern. >> that's right. yeah. >> being asked to do this speech, is that kind of making up for that jab? >> yeah, i don't know, i don't

thou know. i always got the age jokes at different points in my career. >> is it still happening? >> every now and then. i'm starting to get the gray hair i need from my 3-year-old daughter and from politics. >> reporter: this is the biggest speech of castro's career. latinos enjoyed speaking roles at the republican convention and castro must convince them to stick with president obama and turn out in big numbers. >> there are a lot of latino leaders out there who say president obama has not been a friend of the latino community. >> under any score, immigration, education, health care, and any number of issues, he has been a very effective advocate for the latino community. >> reporter: he's in the midst of pushing for a small sales tax hike to fund pre-kindergarten programs for low-income children back in san antonio. castro enjoys a squeaky clean political image except for that 2005 san antonio river walk parade scandal. castro was a city councilman and

couldn't make it to the parade in time so his twin brother jumped on the city council float instead. castro's political opponents were saying the brothers were trying to fool the crowd. >> how can we be sure you're going to be the castro brother giving the speech tonight? >> well, he says he's better looking than me. >> and the wedding ring. >> reporter: his brother will introduce his twin at the conventi convention. you'll see the castro brothers standing side by side. ed lavendera, cnn, san antonio, texas. >> that's very cool. thank you for that. julian acastro is going to spea in the 10:00 hour right before the first lady michelle obama will speak. catch those speeches live on cnn. we want to know if you want to know what it's really like to experience the democratic national convention from inside. you can do so. today you can join the cnn election roundtable with wolf blitzer and cnn's political team. you can submit your questions and get answers in realtime in

this live virtual chat. don't miss your opportunity to sit at the cnn election roundtable. it's kind of cool. today at 12:00 noon it begins. 12:00 noon eastern. just log on to cnn.com/roundtable. i was spotting, but i had already gone through menopause. these symptoms may be nothing... but they could be early warning signs of a gynecologic cancer, such as cervical, ovarian, or uterine cancer. feeling bloated for no reason. that's what i remember. seeing my doctor probably saved my life. warning signs are not the same for everyone. if you think something's wrong... see your doctor. ask about gynecologic cancer. and get the inside knowledge.

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the investors who came back from summer vacation didn't feel like buying so much it turns out. take a look at your numbers. they were trading down at the opening bell. things haven't gotten better all day long. right now we're down a little past 87, oh, 88, there you go. so that is the way it's looking right now. who knows if we'll fare better as hours plug on today. the analysts say most investors have their eye on friday, when the jobs number comes up. friday is a big deal. we bring that to you live when it happens. sometimes at mid-morning. i know i've mentioned this, said it over and over. it's the start of the democratic national convention in charlotte. we just came out of the rnc. it's important we continue our full-scale coverage. that convention hall is going to be jammed with party faithful as they take in the speech, speeches like michelle obama, bill clinton, other speeches this week. for those who cannot make it, sandra endo hase